Induced mutation breeding for qualitative and quantitative traits and varietal development in medicinal and aromatic crops at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow (India): past and recent accomplishment

Abstract

Purpose: The nature and kind of some successful mutations achieved through gamma radiation at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow are reviewed and described in this article. Medicinal and aromatic crops (MACs) came under the mutation-breeding program very lateperhaps during the 1980s in India. Nevertheless, successes have been glaring and unique too. The plant breeders of the Institute concerted attempts were made for the genetic restructuring of the plant-frame in Hyoscyamus niger L. (black henbane) and Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa), enhanced alkaloid biosynthesis in henbane, weak, or lack of latex biosynthesis in Papaver somniferum L. (Opium poppy), increased productivity of seeds in Plantago ovata F. (isabgol), and new/increased formation of essential oils in Chamomila recutita [L.] Rauschert (Chamomile) and Cymbopogon winterianus (Java citronella). Several qualitative macro mutations were generated for commercial exploitation, e.g. an unbranched (Ub) and physiologically most efficient variety Aekla and high tropane alkaloid bearing variety Aela of H. niger, opium less oilseed variety Sujata of opium poppy, a dwarf mutant and a male sterile (ms) line of palmarosa, and new compound yielding variety of chamomile and geranium. Conclusions: The ample quantitative variation was also created by reshuffling the polygenic background in both seed and vegetatively propagated MACs, and subsequently, with applying mutation breeding approach superior varieties were evolved and released after a rigorous screening in the field-evaluation or under pipeline for release. These varieties are Niharika and Mayuri of psyllium; Vallary, CIMAP Sammohak, CIM Ujjwala, and YEL (yellow) of German chamomile and Manjari and CIM Jeeva of Java citronella.

Multi-omics profiling reveals ethylene signalling as a key pathway underlying both genetic and epigenetic responses to low-dose ionizing radiation inArabidopsis

“…This likely shaped the biochemical pathways in plants that respond to abiotic stresses and protect the integrity of genomic DNA. Modern agriculture has employed ionizing radiation as a tool to generate novel varieties of plants with favorable traits and to sterilize fruits and vegetables (Deng et al, 2020; Lal et al, 2020; Ma et al, 2021). While these agricultural applications of IR to plants have typically employed relatively high doses, there is now increasing interest in the effects of lower doses of IR on plants, as might be encountered in the context of space travel or colonization of foreign worlds (De Pascale et al, 2021; Mohanta et al, 2021).…”

“…There is a long history of the application of IR to plants for the induction of mutations with the goal of generating more desirable traits for agribusiness as well as in experimental settings to better understand IR effects on plants (Kim et al, 2019; Lal et al, 2020; Ma et al, 2021). These approaches have frequently utilized doses of IR in excess of 1 Gy.…”

Influence of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) essential oil yield under inter - cropping with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)<em> </em>with special reference to the plant - soil relationship

“…The lemongrass and pomegranate fruits produce a range of volatile compounds that make up their characteristic aroma and contribute to their flavour (Lal et 2020a, b, c, d) [15,17,18,20,22] . Aromatic compounds identified in lemongrass (citral and some other minor compounds) and in pomegranate fruit juice samples were high -quality taste and concentration.…”

Genome-Wide and Exome-Capturing Sequencing of a Gamma-Ray-Induced Mutant Reveals Biased Variations in Common Wheat

“…Induced mutagenesis is an effective method of generating novel genetic resources and improving important agronomic traits. Over the past few decades, induced mutagenesis has played a vital role in mining allelic variations from functional genes and breeding crop cultivars ( Chaudhary et al, 2019 ; Lal et al, 2020 ). Genetic diversity of germplasm resources is the first step in cultivating new, high-yield crop cultivars ( Fu, 2015 ).…”